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    What Are Meta Keywords and Should I Still Use Them?


    If you’ve spent any time learning about SEO or building a website, you’ve probably come across the term meta keywords. For a long time, these little pieces of metadata were considered important for ranking well in search engines. They gave website owners a simple way to tell search engines what a page was about.


    But times have changed. Today, meta keywords are more of a historical footnote than a key SEO tactic. Still, they come up often in conversations about website optimization, especially for people just getting started with SEO.


    So, what exactly are meta keywords? Do they still matter in 2025? And should you bother using them at all?


    Let’s break it all down in a clear, friendly way so you can make the best decision for your website.


    What Are Meta Keywords?


    Meta keywords are a type of meta tag that you can add to the code of your web page. They’re not visible to visitors, but they live behind the scenes in your HTML. Their purpose? To tell search engines which keywords you want your page to rank for.


    Here’s what a meta keyword tag might look like in the code:


    <meta name="keywords" content="SEO, meta keywords, search engine optimization, website ranking">


    In the early days of SEO—think late 1990s and early 2000s—search engines like AltaVista and early versions of Google would crawl these tags and use them as signals to determine what your page was about. It was a quick way to help your site show up for relevant searches.


    But like many things in the SEO world, this tactic was quickly abused. People started stuffing their meta keywords with irrelevant terms or repeating the same words over and over to manipulate rankings. This led to major changes in how search engines view meta keywords today.


    Do Search Engines Still Use Meta Keywords?


    The short answer? Not really.


    Let’s take a closer look at how the major search engines treat meta keywords:


    Google: Google has openly stated that it no longer uses the meta keywords tag as a ranking factor. In fact, it hasn’t used them for well over a decade. Google’s algorithm now focuses on content quality, user experience, site structure, backlinks, and hundreds of other signals—but not meta keywords.


    Bing: Microsoft’s Bing also largely ignores meta keywords. While they may technically read the tag, they don’t give it any real weight in determining where your site should rank.


    Yahoo: Yahoo’s search results are powered by Bing, so the same rules apply.


    Yandex and Baidu: These two major search engines in Russia and China, respectively, may still glance at meta keywords, but even they prioritize other signals like on-page content, links, and user behavior.


    In short, major search engines have moved on from relying on meta keywords. They now focus on understanding your content naturally—through what’s written on the page, how people interact with it, and how trustworthy your site appears overall.


    Why Meta Keywords Fell Out of Favor


    Meta keywords were too easy to abuse. In the early days of SEO, you could stuff your meta keyword tag with dozens or even hundreds of terms—relevant or not—and trick search engines into ranking your page higher. There were no real rules, and no limit to how many keywords you could include.


    This led to a lot of keyword spam, and search engines started to realize that relying on the meta keywords tag was hurting the quality of their search results.


    To provide better experiences for users, search engines like Google started placing more value on actual content quality, user engagement, page speed, and mobile friendliness. That shift pushed meta keywords into the background, where they’ve stayed ever since.


    Should You Still Use Meta Keywords?


    Technically, you can still add meta keywords to your website. Most content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Magento still support them, and many SEO plugins have fields for meta keywords.


    But the better question is: should you?


    Here’s what to consider:


    1. Meta keywords won’t help your rankings
    Google and Bing ignore them completely, so adding them won’t give you any kind of SEO boost. Your time is better spent optimizing actual content on your pages—titles, headings, product descriptions, blog posts, and internal links.


    2. They may expose your keyword strategy to competitors
    If you include meta keywords in your code, anyone can view them by right-clicking on your page and selecting “View Page Source.” This could make it easier for competitors to see which keywords you’re targeting and try to outrank you.


    3. Some search engines may still glance at them—but it’s not worth the effort
    If your site targets niche international markets that rely on search engines like Yandex or Baidu, meta keywords might have a minor influence. But even in those cases, content and backlinks matter far more.


    4. They can clutter your code
    Clean, efficient code is always a good practice. Adding unnecessary metadata just for the sake of it doesn’t add real value and could lead to messy or bloated HTML, especially on large websites.


    What You Should Focus on Instead


    If meta keywords are no longer effective, where should you be putting your effort? Here are a few SEO best practices that truly make a difference:


    1. Create high-quality content
    Google’s algorithm is designed to reward content that’s helpful, clear, and engaging. Write for people, not just search engines. Use headings to structure your information, answer questions clearly, and avoid keyword stuffing.


    2. Use proper title tags and meta descriptions
    While meta keywords are outdated, your title tag and meta description still matter. These appear in search engine results and can influence whether people click on your link. Make them compelling and relevant to the topic of the page.


    3. Optimize your page content with relevant keywords
    Instead of cramming keywords into a hidden tag, weave them naturally into your content. Use them in headings, subheadings, image alt text, and throughout the body of your page.


    4. Build quality backlinks
    Links from other trusted websites are still one of the most important ranking signals. Focus on creating content that earns backlinks through its usefulness, originality, or value.


    5. Improve page experience
    Make sure your website loads quickly, looks good on mobile, and is easy to navigate. Search engines increasingly prioritize user experience when ranking sites.


    A Brief Recap


    • Meta keywords are a type of HTML tag used to tell search engines which keywords a page is targeting
    • They were useful in the early days of the web but are now ignored by major search engines like Google and Bing
    • Using them won’t help your rankings and may even expose your keyword strategy to competitors
    • Instead of using meta keywords, focus on content quality, on-page optimization, good user experience, and building backlinks

    Final Thoughts


    Meta keywords had their moment in the spotlight, but that time has passed. In today’s SEO landscape, search engines are smarter and more user-focused than ever. They care more about how helpful your content is, how fast your site loads, and how much value you provide than whether you’ve tucked a few keywords into a meta tag.


    So, if you’re just getting started with SEO, don’t worry about meta keywords. Spend your time creating great content, understanding your audience, and building a website that people—and search engines—can trust.


    Still unsure where to start with your SEO strategy? We’re happy to help guide you through it. After all, good SEO starts with smart choices—and now you know that skipping meta keywords is one of them.